Best Smart Home Gadgets of 2017

There are a growing number of cool gadgets out there that cater for both men and women. No matter what you do in your life there is bound to be a gadget available that will make any task you do a whole lot simpler.

Looking to make your home just a little smarter? While still in its infancy, the number of smart home products—devices that let you control your lighting, thermostat, or even your crock pot from your smartphone—is rapidly growing. From GE to Belkin to Home Depot, tons of products and whole ecosystems want to help you control your home via a single iOS or Android app. You can pick and choose your favorite gadgets to assemble an affordable intelligent abode on your own terms, or opt for an entire smart home system that does all the work for you. Here are some of our favorite smart home systems and individual gadgets.

A ton of new smart home devices were announced at CES, and include new connected appliances, cameras, lightbulbs— even robots and trashcans. One common thread, though, is that many of these new devices will be compatible with Amazon Alexa, further integrating this voice assistant into your home. Here are some of the smart home gadgets coming in 2017 that we’re most excited about.

AMAZON ECHO

Best Smart Speaker

Yes, it’s a Bluetooth speaker, but the Amazon Echo has a number of voice-activated features that let you control a number of smart home gadgets, as well as connect to other smart home hubs, such as those from Belkin and Samsung. It can also read you audiobooks, check the weather, and even let you purchase things online just by using your voice. And, as a speaker, it sounds great, too.

Best Security Camera

The third generation of the excellent Dropcam, this $199 camera now shoots video in 1080p (up from 720p), and has a magnetic, swiveling base that lets you set it up almost anywhere. It features two-way audio, sharp night vision and a powerful digital zoom, and integrates with other smart home products, such as the Nest Learning Thermostat. But to really make use of Nest Cam’s features, you’ll have to shell out $10 or more per month for the Nest Aware program, which gives you access to cloud storage and much more.